DR WHO
IN 2024
April
ICE HOT! a collection of Who stories about Paradise Towers published by Obverse Books. Includes introduction and a new story by me.
January
An interview with Frank Cronogue mostly about wwriting for Who now available on You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH6x24q_DoE
IN 2023
In December
On 14th December, the date of the first broadcast 35 years ago, AUK issue the audio musical CHILDREN OF THE CIRCUS written by Kenton Hall and Christopher Guard based on my GREATEST SHOW IN THE GALAXY. All surviving members of the original cast take part.
Stephen provides an introduction to Kenton Hall's novelisation.
In October
Attended Timelash Dr Who Convention in Kassel, Germany
In July
Dale Smith's study of GREATEST SHOW published in Obverse Books' Black Archive
In April
The fourth and final part of Cutaway Comics' PARADISE FOUND by Sean Mason and Silvano Beltramo is published. A sequel is in planning.
In April
Attended The Capitol for DWAS's 60th Birthday celebrations.
IN 2022...
In October
A study of Paradise Towers by John Toon in Obverse Books' Black Archive.
In September
Reeltime have now released the interview with me for their Mythmakers series. See recent news.
Barnaby Eaton-Jones has just recorded ME AND HIM AND WHO. See recent news. More details later.
I attended the Whooverville convention in Derby on Saturday 3rd and had a great time.
Reeltime are also releasing an interview with me on dvd as part of their Mythmakers series. Robert Dick is the interviewer and Keith Barnfather the director.
In August
My short story collection The Wallscrawler was published by Obverse Books. It includes six Dr Who stories, two of them specially written for the volume, three others previously unpublished.
Cutaway Comics brought out Part Three of Paradise Towers written by Sean Mason and illustrated by Silvano Beltramo. Accompanying it is an interview with me by Sean Mason and commentaries which include Andrew Cartmel and myself discussing Paradise Towers, our first ever joint commentary.
I delivered the final draft of my audio drama ME AND HIM AND WHO to Barnaby Eaton-Jones and AUK. It's about John Nathan-Turner and Gary Downie and is due to go into production soon.
In April I attended DWAS's Capitol Five and shared a panel with Bonnie Langford for the first time.
BACK IN 2021...
Paradise Found a four-part comic book sequel to Paradise Towers by Sean Mason and Silvano Beltrano with my collaboration started publication from Cutaway Comics in October 2021. Great reviews already from We Are Cult and Sci-Fi Bulletin (see Recent News for details)
There also an article about the project in Dr Who Magazine Issue 565 July 2021.
Tardis Magazine No 2 was published in January 2021 in aid of Mind. I have an article inside and characters from Paradise Towers and The Greatest Show are all over the front cover. More details in Recent News.
I did a Zoom interview for Time Scoop Spearhead on July 4th at 10 am. Link here.
Celestial Toyroom (Dr Who Appreciation Society) 518 includes an article The Whizzkid and Me.
Sci-Fi Bulletin carries an interview by me by Paul Hudson. Here's the link.
Adam Martyn interview released in November.
The blu-ray box of Season 24 which includes Paradise Towers came out in June with more extras than you could possibly imagine.
Obverse Press has just published Build High for Happiness a collection of short stories inspired by Paradise Towers which includes an introduction and a story by me. December 2021
On December 13th I did an in-depth interview with Robert Dick directed by Keith Barnfather for Reel-Time Pictures as part of their Dr Who Myth Makers series.
Just announced. Out in February 2022. An Eaglemoss figure of a Cleaner from Paradise Towers.
2020
BIG FINISH
Big Finish have released three Dr Who stories based round my character of Mags the Werewolf from Greatest Show in the Galaxy. Jessica Martin stars alongside Sylvester McCoy. Here's the link to the Big Finish site.
I myself have written The Psychic Circus, a prequel to The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, featuring Ian Reddington (Chief Clown) and Chris Jury (Kingpin) alongside Sylvester McCoy. This has been released by Big Finish in February 2020. Link to article in Big Finish's Vortex Magazine.
THE BACK STORY
Stephen wrote two Dr Who stories for the Seventh Doctor.
Paradise Towers (Four episodes, 1987)
“Paradise Towers, occupied by street gangs and geriatric cannibals, is ruled by the dictatorial Chief Caretaker, who takes his orders from the all-seeing Great Architect Kroagnon.
Funny and scary, the script is a cross between Alan Bennett and Ayckbourn. A wonderful experiment that succeeds on almost every level. 5/5.”
(Mark Campbell. Pocket Essential Doctor Who. 2000)
The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (Four Episodes, 1987)
“Ace and the Doctor visit the Psychic Circus and together with a group of other inquisitive visitors, have to participate in its sinister talent show – but if they don’t entertain the Family, they don’t come out alive…
Extraordinary images and a narrative that treads a fine line between humour and horror. Easily the scariest Doctor Who in years. 5/5.”
(Mark Campbell. Pocket Essential Doctor Who. 2000)
An entertaining account of their creation can be found in Andrew Cartmel’s Script Doctor (Reynolds and Hearn 2005). A revised version is now available.
Andrew also interviews Ian Briggs, Malcolm Kohll and myself about writing for Who in Issue 473 of Doctor Who Magazine. (May 2014)
There’s a full illustrated interview with Stephen about his experience of writing for Who in Doctor Who Magazine No.263 (April 1998)
Stephen did novelisations of both stories for Target Books.
The DVD of Paradise Towers was released in July 2011.
The DVD of Greatest Show in the Galaxy was released in July 2012.
Bonnie Langford's reading of the novelised version of Paradise Towers was also released in 2012.
Sophie Aldred's reading of the novelised version of The Greatest Show in the Galaxy was released in August 2013.
The blu-ray box of Season 24 which includes Paradise Towers came out in June with more extras than you could possibly imagine.